The rook cuts off the black king along a rank or file while the white king approaches. When the kings face each other, a rook pushes the black king one line towards the edge; repeat until on the last rank or file.
Moves
No moves yet.
About this endgame
Mating with the rook takes longer than with the queen: from here, with best play, it takes 14 moves. The rook alone does not box the king in as quickly, so the white king has to work harder. The technique relies on the , the same idea as in pawn endings. When the kings stand face to face, a rook forces the black king back one rank. When they do not, the rook makes a waiting move along its rank or file and lets the black king be the one to step in front. What to remember: do not chase the king with loose checks, which only let it escape, and keep the rook far from it, because if it gets close the king can take it. Practise it until you can do it without thinking.